The University Grants Commission (UGC) has initiated a nationwide public consultation on the proposed “University Townships Initiative”, aimed at supporting State Governments in creating five university townships near major industrial and logistic corridors. The initiative, announced in the Union Budget 2026–27, envisions the development of integrated academic zones featuring multiple universities, colleges, research institutions, skill centres and residential complexes. The Ministry of Education has invited inputs through a survey questionnaire hosted on the MyGov platform to help formulate the proposed scheme. Students, faculty members, researchers, administrators, alumni, industry representatives and other stakeholders have been encouraged to actively participate in the consultation and provide their suggestions. The UGC has also directed higher education institutions to widely disseminate information about the survey and encourage participation from their respective academic communities. The communication was issued by Prof. Shyama Rath, Secretary, UGC, on August 6, 2026.
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